Are there some presents that can't be returned?

If you don’t mind saying, where do you live?

I think you should just tell her you’ve never really liked cats and let her take it back. It’s better than letting the cat go to a shelter where it could be put to sleep or placing a free-to-good home ad and letting it go to a stranger.

No one should ever, ever give an animal as a gift. Can your girlfriend take it?

I would say if no-one else can take it, give it back to your girlfriend. You could also try placing an ad in a local paper, or better yet, put up ads in local vet shops. Someone might be willing to take it off your hands if you get the word out.

East coast canada, really bad winter’s, already alot of stray cats, a I don’t want it to die

I/she can’t return it(store is out of buisness(family pet store), she can’t have pets in her apt, spca is full of cats(won’ take it) and there are a million ads online for free cats

every time this cat see’s me it tries to kill me(I’m running out of band-aids)

no don’t just let it go. try uncle henrys free for the taking. or call around to some vets. they have people all the time looking for cats.

That was nice of her to save it. But I’m a little concerned that she doesn’t keep it herself. Sounds like on one hand she wanted to save the cat, but on the other hand would rather burden someone else with it than keep it herself. I hope that there were no hidden motives by calling it a Christmas present so that you would feel obligated to keep it.

That is a terrible gift. I feel for you, dude.

How old is the cat? The younger it is, the easier to find an eager family/person to adopt it. Also, whether it’s spayed/neutered or de-clawed (I’m guessing it’s not, since your band-aid stock is being depleted) can affect who will take it in.

My mother suggests re-gifting the cat. She’s probably being sarcastic, though.

Ask some friends who are cat lovers—they abound. And maybe one of them will take it, when they hear of this predicament.

True, other cat lovers might be willing to take care of it until a new home can be found, even if they can’t keep it themselves.

FedEx it to Seattle, I will take it in gladly. Yeah, I know, but I would if arrangements could be made.

Do you have a no-kill shelter nearby?

I am simply aghast that anyone would give a pet as a gift without thoroughly talking it over first. A pet is a huge commitment!

The only time you should give a pet as a gift is when you do it together. I bought one of my best friend’s her two kittens at a shelter with her right there, picking them out. She’d been wanting them for a very long time and just couldn’t afford the initial payment so she would have had to put it off for a few months. Now, they’re all happy and loved.

Your girlfriend did a dumb thing, and its hard to find a way out. You could tell her and risk seriously hurting her feelings and confidence. You could ‘suddenly develop allergies’. You could ‘have an assshole landlord’. You either tell the truth and get rid of it, lie and get rid of it, or suck it up, love the cat and maybe find out that is the one cat who would love you back. I suggest a no-kill shelter. I’ve never heard of a shelter just turning away a cat. That’s retarded.

She got you a cat without asking you? That actually makes me quite angry. A pet is a huge deal and a lot of time. What was she thinking?

Perhaps you have a no-kill shelter nearby, and if you do great; but if you can, just give it back to her. Honestly, I would tell her the truth about how irresponsible the whole idea is. I hope this isn’t something she does with the people she dates as a tradition.

It’s sweet that she wanted to ‘save’ it, but you cannot dump an animal on a person you haven’t even been with that long as a surprise.

I’m shocked.

I’m actually surprised this chick thought it was a good idea when they both ‘just started going out’. I mean, if you’d been together for a year or more, and knew each others tastes then fine. At least you’ve got a solid background and have some information at your disposal like the receiving persons availability and financial capability. But she didn’t even know you hated cats, so it stands to reason she knew dick all about the rest.

There seems to be a bigger issue you’re going to have to deal with besides the cat itself. She has a lack of foresight. You need to talk with her about what is and is not acceptable behavior in this relationship and how both of you can deal with those challenges as they arise. You guys are clearly not on the same page. It doesn’t have to be a ‘huge talk’ just a ‘Hey, I appreciate the gesture but in the future I’d like a head’s up. It’s a big commitment and I’d appreciate being able to contribute to it.’

On a side note…Personally, if the person knew me well, I’d love to be given a puppy on Christmas. But that’s me.

These are all great points, but I can’t help but wonder if coffeenut was expecting responses like these. Were you looking for advice on your current situation, or merely asking for more examples of presents that can’t be returned?

Other gifts that can’t be returned… Nope, can’t think of many. A surprise tattoo?

Soiled Underwear!

Herpes.

lol

Sounds like a riddle. What do cats and herpes have in common? They are both gifts that can’t be returned.

ba-dum-dump

@coffeenut I’ll take it, I’ll give you a call when I get home tonight

ok, thanks tyrant

Hmmm, not one answer about “Cat – The other other white meat.” Well, I see that AstroChuck isn’t here to give an answer, that’s probably why.

Shame on her!!!!!!! Pets are never good gifts – that’s like someone picking a spouse for you – you’re committed like it or not. Try a free ad in your local paper, try spending time with the cat and you may grow to like it or it may grow to like you. Good luck with the cat and girlfriend.